Emerging Boks sneak late draw
23 Jun 2009
Willem de Waal sank a touchline conversion after the hooter had sounded to hand the hosts a 13-all draw against the Lions.
The match was played in atrocious weather at Newlands, and as the rain came pouring down once more, De Waal converted Danwel Demas’s try from the right hand corner. De Waal also produced the floating skip pass which put the winger in.
It was yet again another match where the Lions couldn’t close it out as they led 10-0 after quarter of an hour, but failed to score again until 60 minutes later.
Early on the Lions enjoyed territorial dominance but Ronan O’Gara missed a fifth minute penalty straight in front of the poles after hands in the ruck. The Emerging Boks continued to be pinged at the breakdown and were spoken to by ref Alain Rolland after eight minutes for repeated infringements. On this occasion O’Gara couldn’t miss from 10m out to put his side into the lead.
While the Lions were being awarded penalties from most of the breakdowns, the Boks’ ball was slowed down whenever they went into contact. Martyn Williams was a menace at the breakdowns and the Boks had difficulty troubling the defence with slow ball.
From a South African perspective, a couple of players were in line to push for places into the senior squad. Zane Kirchner was one but he started badly as his low kick handed Keith Earls the first try of the match after Martyn Williams was gifted the ball from the Bulls fullback’s kick.
The Lions were 10-0 after 15 minutes without having done anything special.
Peter de Villiers has spoken much about Earl Rose’s ability, but he too found the pace up a level to anything he’s experienced before and was eventually moved to No 15 for De Waal. Rose wasted two turnovers when he held on too long – one which one sold Morgan Newman as he received man and ball – while he had two early kicks charged down, the first from behind his own goal-line.
Jano Vermaak’s bombs from the base also didn’t give his chasers a chance to compete, which gave the Lions plenty of possession as Andy Powell enjoyed the opportunities to run it back.
The Boks did manage to get on the scoreboard five minutes before the break and went in 10-3 down, very much in with a chance of a victory.
Rose slotted another from straight in front as the Emerging XV trailed 10-6 with half an hour remaining.
De Waal then made his appearance in a bid to win the territorial game as the game turned into a kick fest in windy conditions. As a result, the sides went into the final 10 minutes locked at four points difference.
With just four minutes to go, the Emerging Boks were penalised at scrum-time and replacement James Hook ensured they couldn’t lose the contest.
However, the Boks produced their best attack of the match from a lineout. The forwards set it up, and Demas and De Waal did the rest.
The visitors were visibly unhappy after the match as a number of them again didn’t stake claims for Test spots. Hook, on for O’Gara after 44 minutes, may be the one individual who forces his way on to the bench.
By Grant Ball, at Newlands
618 Comments
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23 Jun 2009, 23:35 pm
#597 SjamBok: chch in dreamland it seems -nightmares about the coming 3-nations
24 Jun 2009, 00:03 am
#347 rangerman: Ja that is Willems big failiong. He kicks it wAAAAY too much. I understand that he may be under team orders, but at the end of the day, he must still play what is in front of him. and if he spots a 3 man overlap surely he knows to play it. BUT the problem is that he never even looks – he just kicks.
24 Jun 2009, 07:45 am
and boy what a game but what i dont get is why was rose kicking when de waal came on? he is a known better kicker than rose to think if he took that kick then we could have won
24 Jun 2009, 08:15 am
The sad thing about the match is that they looked more dangerous when Generaal De Waal came on. Earl just isn’t a flyh…uh…rugbyplayer.
24 Jun 2009, 08:29 am
I can see why the Golden Lions moved Rose to fb, he jsut does not have the passing game, sure he ca nhandle short passes bu can’t pass accurately past meters, he needs gym time, he has vision and great timing with kicks, but his passing lets him down as well as his conditioning.
Not a bok, not by a long shot.
24 Jun 2009, 08:56 am
#602 SjamBok: South Africa keep producing flyhalfs like Wilem and Naas and Debeer. These guys are masters with the boot.
By the war Adams had a great game. He has learnt from Dupreez.
24 Jun 2009, 08:56 am
#583 Sheriff:
You might be right, Lawrence seemed to have eyes only for the Lions last w/e.
Imagine how much closer it would have been if he’d been watching the Boks too ?
You fellas seem to be wasting a hell of alot of energy celebrating a Draw ! NZ Maoris had already beaten the touring Lions at this stage.
Hey love all the complaints about the appalling weather too. Could have sworn those same people were mocking the ABs for their poor performance against France in conditions that were even worse….
Stunning kick from De Waal, balls of steel !
24 Jun 2009, 08:59 am
#607 WakaNathan:
shut up dude – your All Black team couldn’t even beat France who FYI were nowhere on the 6 nations….
24 Jun 2009, 09:06 am
#608 brains_trust:
yer right. Theyre a **** team aye.
Oh hang on. Didnt they beat France. In conditions that made this look like the Greek Islands ?
And they nilled your boys, at home, last time they played. 2-1 for ’08.
The Lions last pm selected 2 props who had, literally, just stepped off the plane.
24 Jun 2009, 10:05 am
Now, I am not a De Waal fan, and in fact I am am really sorry that he came to the Stormers as I believe he is holding the team’s development (and that of Grant) back. I consider him nothing more than an average, limited and somewhat pedestrian player.
But is it my imagination or did the backline look better, more cohesive and more dangerous when he replaced Rose? THAT says all there is to say about Rose, I am afraid. He is just not a good enough player at this level and I cant see him developing into one. He has had many chances to prove he can put it together, but he just doesnt. Sorry, you are the weakest link, goodbye
24 Jun 2009, 12:18 pm
#610 Stormfront: Ja man, I was also vloeking the guy in Stormers games, but i take it all back after that kick he landed last night
24 Jun 2009, 12:20 pm
#608 brains_trust: Brains – los that oke man, he is not worth it. Biggest doos on this site by a mile
24 Jun 2009, 13:41 pm
#612 bokfan1:
Love you too.
Moron.
24 Jun 2009, 13:59 pm
Watched it on replay three times!!! De Waal missed that kick.
24 Jun 2009, 14:00 pm
omw that game was AMAZING! When the Lions scored, I though: ****, here comes another 50 pointer BUT THEN Rose got that kick and we had a chance and then that try and then WILLEM! And omw it started raining and the pressure must have been HUGE! And it was on the touch line but he GOT IT! He is amazing!
24 Jun 2009, 14:45 pm
#614 ShaunS:
famously, the Boks were awarded a DG against NZ Maoris in the very last min in 1981 to earn themselves a draw. Replays showed the kick clearly missed ! And the Maoris, despite playing them OFF the park, just walked off completely non-plussed.
24 Jun 2009, 14:47 pm
#614 ShaunS:
I just watched it again. Somehow the camera didnt have the best angle but you may have a point. The flagsmen seemed to give each other a long look….
24 Jun 2009, 19:18 pm
#604 King Shark: Why when the big pressure was on did Rose run away? Pathetic
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